On many records I have hired Mark Hundevad to drum because I admire everything about him. His musicianship is incredible but that’s not enough, if one is producing one needs to know the personality of the collaborators is such that they can do what Mark does, meaning whether I’m articulate or too cryptic and incoherent, (unfortunately both happen), that he can take it and try again without resentment or a hissy fit. One time I asked him what the greatest drum lesson was he ever had. Toronto is the biggest city in Canada, there are many monster musicians who live here and Mark is one of the monsters I know. His answer was telling me about an American musician he knew, I think he was based in Philadelphia and might have been connected to Sun Ra or Cecil, but I might be recalling some of those details incorrectly. But the part that stayed with me was how this drum guru guy had Mark play just one note on a drum. Let it resonate, do it again. It was a pretty fucking weird story from someone I hold in high esteem for their virtuosity. One big smash on a drum head? I can do that too but I don’t expect to ever have the relationship with drums he has. I didn’t get it but I didn’t doubt he was telling me something he truly believed changed his life. There are things I try to tell students that are a big deal to me but there’s boredom in their eyes when I explain the importance. Just telling someone about knowledge is never going to work.